Edition 565 February 2024
Printed courtesy of Mrs Annette Haynes as a service to the community
Please email your entries for the March 2024 issue to: ThePennant@mail.com by 21st February 2024
Bradford Abbas Variety Club
Variety Show 2024!
We hope that you all had a great Christmas and can now start to look forward to the next memorable event in the village - The Variety Show!!!
We had a successful planning meeting on 10th January and are now on track for rehearsals and getting a show together for you.
Show dates are Friday 12th April at 7.30pm and Saturday 13th April at 3pm and 7.30pm at the Village Hall.
Tickets at £8 each, will go on sale from the 1st March.
We are in need of help with backstage support so if you can help or wondering what it entails, then please get in touch.
We would also welcome new cast members too if you’re interested in treading the boards.
Any village organisation that wishes to help with front of house duties in return for a donation of the proceeds, then please apply now!
Our rehearsals will start on Wednesday 21st February, 7.30pm at the Sports and Social Club.
Contact for all enquiries lou.silk@hotmail.com
Bradford Abbas Community Land Trust
The AGM for the Community Land Trust will be held in the Village Hall on Wednesday 14th February starting at 7.30 p.m. This will include a summary of where we are with village developments and will hopefully include the likely impact of the Neighbourhood Plan as and when it is finalised and agreed. There will be certain aspects of the meeting which can only be voted on by members of the trust, but everyone is welcome to hear about the Trust and its workings.
Bradford Abbas Parish Council
Royal Mail and Livemore (their agents) have been out on three separate occasions to survey for a suitable position for a replacement post box for Bradford Abbas, where there are no underground utilities. There have been intense efforts on behalf of the residents by the Parish Council and our District Councillor, Robin Legg, to ensure that a postal collection service is restored in a central location as soon as possible. Royal Mail have constantly ignored the Parish Council's request to meet with parish councillors.
After intense negotiations a position in Church Road, where there are no underground utilities, has been offered and agreed by the Parish Council and our Dorset Councillor. We hope now that our postal collection service is restored immediately.
Telephone Box News
We hope that you enjoyed the Christmas decorations and crib and we look forward to the bulbs coming into flower to brighten the long winter days.
There’s nothing like a good book by the fire at this time of year and there are lots to choose from in the telephone box, thanks to our generous residents. Thank you. The telephone box team.
Bradford Abbas WI
Bradford Abbas WI Tuesday 20th February 7.30pm in the Village Hall. We invite you to come along and join in the fun of our pancake race, you could be a champion pancake tosser! Afterwards a supper of freshly made scrummy pancakes. We ask for a donation of £3 per person. Everyone very welcome.
St. Mary’s Community Trust
Saturday 17th February 9am to noon – The Big Breakfast in the church.
Come and enjoy a cooked breakfast with us (prices £6 / £9), with toast and drinks all free. Pay with cash or card.
We are not planning a “Church That Rocks” event for spring / early Summer 2024 but please mark your diaries for a music event, “The Last Rays of Summer”, in the playing field on Saturday 14th September.
See you soon.
Jo, Alan, Rob, Ruth, Trevor and Gary
The ST MARY’S COMMUNITY TRUST team
Bradford Abbas Camera Club
- Tuesday 13th February: The annual Keith Lane lecture, this year’s guest speaker is Millie Pilkington. She is a local portrait photographer who specialises on children and families. She has been commissioned right across the world and has photographed many famous people including the Royal family.
- Tuesday 27th February: Post production challenge – start thinking about any images you would like to share with the members, images in their RAW and processed state.
The club meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, 7.30pm in the Village Hall. All welcomed. Further information at sbacameraclub.co.uk.
Mixed Ability Yoga
Saturday morning yoga continues at Bradford Abbas Village Hall 9.15 - 10.15am. So come along and join us! These are friendly and fun classes, suitable for most. Start your weekend with movement and relaxation. £9 per session.
February dates - 3rd* / 10th / 24th
(3rd February class runs 8.45am-9.45am)
No class 17th February
March dates - 2nd / 9th / 16th / 30th
No class 23rd March
For more information email emmarileyyoga@gmail.com, message on Facebook @emmarileyyoga or call/text 07884246550.
Bradford Abbas Petanque Group
The Petanque group is still going through the winter months although we have to play skittles on wet days (lucky to have a alternative). Thursday afternoon sessions starting at 13:30 during winter months. A request has been made to play Saturdays so we will try this in the new year, probably starting on the 3rd Saturday February 2024. Any queries please contact Bob Taylor on 77840340799
Bradford Abbas History Society
NEXT MEETINGS WILL BE IN THE VILLAGE HALL ON TUESDAY 30th JANUARY AT 2.30 pm or THURSDAY 1st
FEBRUARY AT 7.30 pm.
Our AGM will be followed by LUKE MOULAND’s presentation, “ON THE PARISH”, which draws on stories from a number of Dorset workhouses and takes a look at some of the records available to help understand the Poor Law system and also how to research your own pauper ancestors.
Later in February there will be meetings on TUESDAY 27th FEBRUARY AT 2.30 pm or THURSDAY 29th FEBRUARY AT 7.30 pm when a presentation will be given by GEORGE TATHAM on “THE MONMOUTH REBELLION”, drawing on events that took place in Bradford Abbas, Clifton Maybank, Wyke and Sherborne.
MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO ALL AT A COST OF £2. ANNUAL £10 SUBSCRIPTION ARE NOW DUE WITH THE ISSUE OF OUR ANNUAL PROGRAMME OF EVENTS.
The Rose and Crown, Bradford Abbas
- Thursday 1st February: Pie Night 6-9 pm.
- Friday 9th February: Pizza Night 6-9 pm.
- Wednesday 14th February: Valentine’s Night Menu.
- Saturday 17th February: Valentine’s Menu 6-9 pm, plus live music, Phil Dewhurst, 8.30 til late.
- Tuesday 20th February: Pancake Day TBC.
- Thursday 22nd February: Curry Night 6-9 pm.
For bookings please phone 01935 423199 or email roseandcrown@btinternet.com
The Friendship Club
The Friendship Club meeting this month is on 6th February Tuesday afternoon at 2.00 pm at Bradford Abbas Sports and Social Club. There is Bingo, a small draw, and biscuits and a chance to have a chat and laugh with fellow villagers. New members will be warmly welcomed. We always meet on the first Tuesday afternoon of the month. Next month will be on Tuesday 5th March 2024.
Monday Night Bingo
Every Monday at Bradford Abbas Sports and Social Club at 6.45pm with eyes down at 7.15pm. Everyone 18 and over is welcome to our weekly light-hearted evening which also includes a small draw a chance to win the SNOW BALL and of course a laugh and chat, we finish just before 9.00 pm.
Yeovil Railway Centre at Yeovil Junction
There are no public events for February. The shop on platform 3 will be open on Sundays, 10am to 12noon with lots of interesting items on sale, model railway, books and children’s toys. Come along and browse. Lots of things are happening behind the scenes, wagon renovation, track renewal, new toilet block, rebuilding Lord Fisher. If you would like to become a volunteer then come along and talk to us, Tuesday and Sunday mornings. Further information on our Facebook page.
Bradford Abbas and Clifton Maybank Village Hall
In order to book the village hall please go to the Parish Council website (https://bradford-abbas.uk/hall) to see if the hall is available and how to book, alternatively please email bacmvh@gmail.com or ring the Booking Secretary (Tricia Chapman) on 01935 602279. Please note the new telephone number.
St. Mary’s Church, Bradford Abbas
SERVICES HERE IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH - EVERYBODY IS WELCOME.
SUNDAY 4TH FEBRUARY 10am Morning Service (lay-led)
SUNDAY 18TH FEBRUARY 10am Holy Communion (led by David Dunning)
SUNDAY 3RD MARCH 10am Morning Service (lay-led)
WEDNESDAY 7TH MARCH 3:30pm Special Mothers’ Day Service for St Mary’s School pupils and their mothers and grandmothers (led by Jenny Nelson)
SUNDAY 17TH MARCH 10am Holy Communion (led by David Dunning)
EASTER SUNDAY 31ST MARCH 9:30am Holy Communion (led by David Dunning
CHRISTMAS SERVICES Thanks to everybody who came along to our services in December which included an uplifting, traditional Carol Service in church with a choir, a heart-warming Outdoor Carol Service in front of the church on Christmas Eve and quiet Christmas morning communion. On Christmas Eve, we lit nearly 400 candles in front of the altar (in memory of all the former villagers laid to rest in our churchyard) and invited everyone to come inside to see this and our recently donated nativity. More than 100 additional candles were lit by visitors to commemorate their own loved ones.
From Our Eco Correspondent
In 2024, why not turn our attention to ‘enjoying nature’ and intentionally seeking out God’s glorious creation. And having appreciated it, let’s see if we can’t create new habits to protect and care for our world.
Here are a few ideas you might consider to raise our appreciation of the Earth.
Bring nature into your home or garden. Plant a herb or flower as a reminder of our responsibility to steward God’s earth. As you tend to this plant, prayerfully ask God how you might nurture nature better at home.
Spot winter wildlife. Winter is still a great time to be outdoors and see wildlife. Soak up the seasonal sights on your doorstep. A great way to begin could be taking part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch this January (27-29).
Walk and Worship. Go for a walk in nature and note all the signs of the season. Use this time to reflect on the changing season and what we can be thankful for.
Visit beautiful places. Search online e.g. on woodlandtrust.org.uk, dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk, rspb.org.uk or nationaltrust.org.uk.
Get to your nearest green space more often. Time spent enjoying God’s creation will help set your mind. Take a sketchbook or notebook, your Bible, or whatever helps you connect with our heavenly Father. Or perhaps God is inviting you to just bring yourself to simply sit and soak it all in.
Try out a new delicious meat-free recipe. What we eat impacts the earth’s resources. Get creative in the kitchen and sample some tasty Meat Free recipes.
Grow your own. What could you grow inside your home or in the garden? Who can you bless along the way?